Howard Jones “Dream Into Action” released 35 years ago today, March 23rd 1985 (according to Jones’ official website; Wiki has the date as March 11th but I believe in the Jones). The album’s lead track “Things Can Only Get Better” is simply perfect for today (our governor just pretty much shut down the state): “We’re not scared to lose it all/Security throw through the wall/Future dreams we have to realize…And do you feel scared? I do/But I won’t stop and falter/And if we threw it all away/Things can only get better.”

Dream Into Action was Jones’ second album. It went to #2 in the UK and #10 in the US. I adored Howard Jones in 1985 and probably bought this LP sometime after its US release in May ‘85. I still really love several songs on Dream Into Action: “Things Can Only Get Better” is fantastic synthpop (#6 UK, #5 US) – we got a chance to see Jones perform a few summers back and that track was his closing song and he was brilliant: full audience sing along with pure joy while Jones rocked the shit out of his keytar.

I also really still love “Life In One Day” (#14 UK, #19 US) which also feels particularly relevant for those of us stuck homebound for who-knows-how-long (ie don’t get all those cleaning and house projects finished right away, also quit freaking the fuck out): “Try to enjoy the here and now/The future will take care of itself somehow.” “No One Is To Blame” is still massively melancholy; Jones released a re-recorded version (produced by Phil Collins who also plays drums for the new track) in 1986 (#16 UK, #4 US). The single “Like to Get to Know You Well” only appeared on the US release; Jones released it as a stand-alone single in the UK in ‘84 (#4 UK). Jones also released “Look Mama” as a single in the UK (#10) – I’m not as crazy about this track, it’s a bit 80′s-bland.

I don’t think I listened to Side B more than a couple of times in the 80′s because I hardly recognize any of the songs. I find “Bounce Right Back” really bizarre – a mashup of new wave Brit synthpop and US hip hop. Weird. Weirder is that Dream Into Action went to #65 on the US R&B/Hip Hop album chart. “Elegy” is exactly what you’d expect from the title – slow, sad; same goes for “Automation” – not slow or sad but very techy and bleep-bloopy.